Nature seems to have a special fondness for the bare areas just off the very top of mountain peaks on their south sides and often adorns such places with flowers.
Arrowleaf Buckwheat, Northern Buckwheat, Eriogonum compositum
Douglas Buckwheat, Eriogonum douglasii
Menzies’ Campion, Silene menziesii
Montana Outdoors 
It is always a joy to see your photos Montucky…I feel as though I hike the trails with you!
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Comment by dhphotosite — August 25, 2012 @ 10:51 am
I wish you could!
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:23 pm
Great close-up shots of the flowers.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — August 25, 2012 @ 11:04 am
Thank you! They are sure pretty for a burned flower garden, aren’t they!
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:24 pm
You provide such beauty by sharing these, Montucky. Thank ye.
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Comment by C.C. — August 25, 2012 @ 11:40 am
I’m very pleased that you and others enjoy seeing this part of the country!
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
So beautiful and I love the thought of the flowers in the bare areas. Thank you, Ellen
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Comment by Ellen Grace Olinger — August 25, 2012 @ 11:51 am
It is often surprising where flowers can be found. Almost invariably there are some on the peaks though.
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:26 pm
All I can do is Sigh…Beautiful!
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Comment by Roberta — August 25, 2012 @ 1:52 pm
Our National Forests are our treasures, aren’t they!
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:29 pm
Oh that blue, blue sky. It doesn’t even look real to me. Our sky is never, ever that color.
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Comment by Roberta — August 25, 2012 @ 2:04 pm
A rain during the night before these photos were taken cleared out everything in the sky, and there are no towns of any size at all for over 50 miles. The sky there is blue and at night the milky way is very bright.
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:30 pm
Too bad these are strictly western species. I love the buckwheats especially and would grow them in my garden if they would stand living with me. One that we do grow in gardens here is Heuchera, which is a relative of the round leaved alumroot. Beautiful pictures of a breathtaking place!
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Comment by New Hampshire Gardener — August 25, 2012 @ 2:22 pm
The buckwheats seem to really like the high peaks. They can always be found there in late summer.
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:32 pm
I thought I recognized the campion, but not quite – we don’t have S. menziesii here. Rather, we have S. latifolia. They look very similar.
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Comment by jomegat — August 25, 2012 @ 4:14 pm
I really like campions. The various species seem to grow at different elevations.
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:33 pm
Those skies are so crisp and lovely…. And I love seeing the different wildflowers!
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Comment by FeyGirl — August 25, 2012 @ 4:39 pm
Those are both facets of the high country that I enjoy too.
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
Great macro – lovely shots.
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Comment by melodylowes — August 25, 2012 @ 6:52 pm
Thank you!
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Comment by montucky — August 25, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
The buckwheats are such a diverse group, and seem to bloom over a longer period than many flowers when all the species are included. The Douglas buckwheat is such an intense color compared to the others.
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Comment by Kim — August 27, 2012 @ 9:24 pm
They are pretty flowers and they endear themselves to me by when and where they grow. I’ve become accustomed to seeing them on the sides of the peaks in late summer. Yes, the color is quite intense. They sure do dress up a place!
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Comment by montucky — August 27, 2012 @ 9:32 pm
Is it my imagination, or do these flowers grow a little closer to the ground? It makes sense that they would in such an environment – less wind damage to contend with!
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Comment by shoreacres — August 28, 2012 @ 6:56 am
Yes, they are low growing except for the Campion and it was tucked in among the rocks and I’m sure that is exactly the reason. There is always a wind on the peaks and at times it is very strong.
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Comment by montucky — August 28, 2012 @ 9:12 pm
Great set of wild flowers in Montana. Your photos praise their beauty and cause a man to dream for the visit there sometimes. Again, thank You showing these wonders of Mother Nature.
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Comment by Sartenada — August 30, 2012 @ 10:48 pm
These are among the last to bloom this year, I’m afraid. It has gotten so dry now that the plants are preparing for winter early.
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Comment by montucky — September 1, 2012 @ 11:06 am
I love that Douglas buckwheat, such a pretty color.
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Comment by Candace — August 31, 2012 @ 9:58 am
I is really pretty, isn’t it. A little surprising to see it in that location!
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Comment by montucky — September 1, 2012 @ 11:07 am